Vehicle seat back member

ABSTRACT

A vehicle seat back member includes a central web and a front wall that extends from the central web. A rear wall extends along a substantial portion of a rear edge of the central web. A shear center load path of the vehicle seat back member is disposed proximate an inside corner defined by the connection of the central web and the rear wall, and extends substantially along the longitudinal extent of the rear wall.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention generally relates to a vehicle seat back member,and more specifically, a vehicle seat back member that efficientlyrelays load forces to the frame of a vehicle, thereby minimizing weightand size characteristics of the vehicle seat back member.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Vehicle seats generally include back supports to provide comfort to auser and to assist in protecting a user during a collision event.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

One aspect of the present invention includes a vehicle seat back memberhaving a central web. A front wall extends from the central web. A rearwall extends along a substantial portion of a rear edge of the centralweb. A shear center load path of the vehicle seat back member isdisposed proximate an inside corner defined by the connection of thecentral web and the rear wall, and extends substantially along thelongitudinal extent of the rear wall.

Another aspect of the present invention includes a vehicle seat backmember having a central web connected with a recliner heart and havingfront and rear edges. A rear wall having a connecting edge coupled withthe central web and an inside edge. A shear center load path of thevehicle seat back member is confined to a space defined between thecentral web, the rear wall, and a boundary extending between the frontedge and the inside edge.

Another aspect of the present invention includes a vehicle seat backhaving a first support member and a second support member, each having acentral web and a rear wall. A seat base is operably connected with thefirst and second vehicle seat back members. A shear center load path ofthe vehicle seat back extends along an inside corner connection of thecentral web and the rear wall of each of the first and second vehicleseat back members and into the seat base.

These and other aspects, objects, and features of the present inventionwill be understood and appreciated by those skilled in the art uponstudying the following specification, claims, and appended drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a top perspective view of a vehicle seat disposed inside avehicle;

FIG. 2 is a top perspective view of the vehicle seat of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a side elevational view of the vehicle seat of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a top perspective view of the vehicle seat with a cover andpadding removed;

FIG. 5 is a top perspective view of a vehicle seat back;

FIG. 6 is an exploded top perspective view of the vehicle seat back ofFIG. 5;

FIG. 7 is an outside top perspective view of a vehicle seat back member;

FIG. 8 is a side elevational view of the vehicle seat back member ofFIG. 7;

FIG. 8A is a top cross-sectional view taken at line A in FIG. 8;

FIG. 8B is a top cross-sectional view taken at line B in FIG. 8;

FIG. 8C is a top cross-sectional view taken at line C in FIG. 8;

FIG. 8D is a top cross-sectional view taken at line D in FIG. 8;

FIG. 8E is a top cross-sectional view taken at line E in FIG. 8;

FIG. 9 is an inside top perspective view of the vehicle seat back memberof FIG. 7;

FIG. 10 is an inside elevational view of the vehicle seat back member ofFIG. 7;

FIG. 11 is a front elevational view of the vehicle seat backillustrating the impact zone;

FIG. 12 is a top perspective view of the vehicle seat back of FIG. 11;and

FIG. 13 is a side elevational view of the vehicle seat back with theshear center load path illustrated.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS

For purposes of description herein, the terms “upper,” “lower,” “right,”“left,” “rear,” “front,” “vertical,” “horizontal,” and derivativesthereof shall relate to the invention as oriented in FIG. 1. However, itis to be understood that the invention may assume various alternativeorientations, except where expressly specified to the contrary. It isalso to be understood that the specific devices and processesillustrated in the attached drawing, and described in the followingspecification are simply exemplary embodiments of the inventive conceptsdefined in the appended claims. Hence, specific dimensions and otherphysical characteristics relating to the embodiments disclosed hereinare not to be considered as limiting, unless the claims expressly stateotherwise.

Referring to FIGS. 1-15, the reference numeral 10 generally designates avehicle with a seat 11 and a seat back 13 that define a seating assembly9. The seat back 13 includes a vehicle seat back member 12A with acentral web 14. A front wall 16 extends from the central web 14. A rearwall 18 extends along a substantial portion of a rear edge 20 of thecentral web 14. A shear center load path 22 of the vehicle seat backmember 12A is disposed proximate an inside corner 24 of the vehicle seatback member 12A defined by the connection of the central web 14 and therear wall 18, and extends substantially along the longitudinal extent ofthe rear wall 18.

As shown in FIG. 2, the seat back 13 includes the first support memberor vehicle seat back member 12A and a second support member or vehicleseat back member 12B. The second vehicle seat back member 12B has amirror image construction relative to the first vehicle seat back member12A. Throughout this description, features of the first vehicle seatback member 12A will be discussed. However, it will be understood by onehaving ordinary skill in the art that these same features are alsopresent in the second vehicle seat back member 12B, unless otherwisestated.

Referring again to FIGS. 1 and 2, the vehicle seat back member 12A isgenerally designed for use inside the vehicle 10 in either a frontdriver seat, a front passenger seat, or a rear seat of the vehicle 10.The seat 11 generally includes the vehicle seat back member 12A, as wellas a seat base 30 with a cushion 31 and a headrest 32. It iscontemplated that the entire seat 11 may be adjustable, either manuallyor automatically, as understood by one having ordinary skill in the art.The seat 11 is generally designed for the comfort of a passenger, aswell as to accommodate and protect a passenger during a collision event.To assist in accommodating the back of a user, a lower portion 34 of thefront wall 16 of the vehicle seat back member 12A includes asubstantially convex construction that conforms to the back of a user.An upper portion 36 of the front wall 16 curves slightly forward toprovide a concave construction. Additionally, when viewed from the back,a lower portion 38 of the rear wall 18 of the vehicle seat back member12A includes a substantially concave construction. An upper portion 39(FIG. 3) of the rear wall 18 has a generally linear construction. Thegeneral contour of the vehicle seat back member 12A provides comfort andsupport to the back of a user while minimizing the total space needed bythe seat 11. Further, not only are the first and second vehicle seatback members 12A, 12B generally designed to conform to the shape of anoccupant's back and provide substantial support to the occupant's backduring normal use, the first and second vehicle seat back members 12A,12B help protect an occupant during collision events.

As illustrated in FIGS. 3 and 4, the central web 14 of the vehicle seatback member 12A includes a generally recessed portion 40 between a frontedge 41 and the rear edge 20 of the central web 14. The recessed portion40 provides additional structural integrity to the entirety of thevehicle seat back member 12A. The recessed portion 40 is defined by acontinuous sloped ledge 45 that does not extend beyond an outerperiphery of the central web 14. The recessed portion 40 includes avariety of apertures and connecting points for securing variousmechanical devices to the vehicle seat back member 12A that aid infunctionality including airbag deployment, lumbar support, seat backtilt, etc. A bottom portion 44 of the vehicle seat back member 12A isgenerally deeper in construction than a top portion 46 of the vehicleseat back member 12A. Stated differently, when viewed from the side, thetop portion 46 of the first and second vehicle seat back members 12A,12B is narrower than the bottom portion 44 of the first and secondvehicle seat back members 12A, 12B. When viewed from the side, therecessed portion 40 is generally wider at the bottom portion 44 of thefirst and second vehicle seat back members 12A, 12B and narrower at thetop portion 46 of the first and second vehicle seat back members 12A,12B.

Each of the first and second vehicle seat back members 12A, 12B includesa recliner heart aperture 48 (FIG. 5) adapted to receive recliner hearts49A, 49B that operably connect the seat base 30 with the first andsecond vehicle seat back members 12A, 12B. The top portion 46 of thefirst and second vehicle seat back members 12A, 12B includes an angledpeak 50 adapted to connect with an upper cross support 52. The reclinerheart aperture 48 is only minimally larger than the recliner hearts 49A,49B and is attached thereto by a laser-welding operation. In theillustrated embodiment, the recliner heart apertures 48 areapproximately 60 mm across. Each recliner heart 49A and 49B is designedto receive loads directed downward along the shear center load path 22and relay those loads directly to the seat base 30.

Referring again to FIG. 4, the upper cross support 52 includes agenerally scalloped middle portion 54 adapted to accommodate an upperback area of a user. The upper cross support 52 includes apertures 56adapted to receive guide sleeves that in turn receive headrest poststhat extend downwardly from the headrest 32. In addition, the uppercross support 52 includes a lower flange area 60 adapted to interfacewith the first and second vehicle seat back members 12A, 12B. The topportion 46 of the first and second vehicle seat back members 12A, 12Balso include a cupped area 62 adapted to interface with and be securedto the upper cross support 52. Each of the first and second vehicle seatback members 12A, 12B, the upper cross support 52, and a lower crossmember 80 can be secured in a variety of ways, such as by mechanicalfasteners, welding, etc. The front wall 16 of the first and secondvehicle seat back members 12A, 12B includes a front lip 96 thatprotrudes from the front wall 16 and provides additional structuralintegrity to the front wall 16. The cupped area 62 is generally definedby a forward attachment flange 64 and a rearward attachment flange 66.

Referring now to FIGS. 5 and 6, the lower cross member 80 extendsbetween the first and second vehicle seat back members 12A, 12B andwraps around the bottom portion 44 of each of the first and secondvehicle seat back members 12A, 12B. The lower cross member 80 generallydefines a channel 82 adapted to accommodate various mechanical devicesextending therethrough including the recliner hearts 49A, 49B and a tierod 51 that extends between the recliner hearts 49A, 49B. The reclinerhearts 49A, 49B connect directly with the first and second vehicle seatback members 12A, 12B, respectively, via laser welding. The reclinerhearts 49A, 49B provide a direct interface from the first and secondvehicle seat back members 12A, 12B to the seat base 30.

Referring again to FIGS. 5 and 6, the lower cross member 80 includeswidened ends 84 adapted to receive and hold the first and second vehicleseat back members 12A, 12B. The bottom portion 44 of each of the firstand second vehicle seat back members 12A, 12B rests inside the widenedends 84 of the lower cross member 80. The first and second vehicle seatback members 12A, 12B include a gap 85 on the bottom portion 44 thatseparates the front wall 16 from the rear wall 18. The rear wall 18generally includes a groove 88 that extends along the longitudinalextent of the rear wall 18. The groove 88 provides additional structuralintegrity to the longitudinal extent of the rear wall 18. The first andsecond vehicle seat back members 12A, 12B, upper cross support 52 andlower cross member 80 generally define a seat back frame 89.

As shown in FIGS. 7-10, the rear wall 18 of the vehicle seat back member12A includes a connecting edge 90 and an inside edge 92. The rear wall18 interfaces with the central web 14 at the connecting edge 90. Theinside edge 92 includes a support flange 94. The support flange 94 isshown extending orthogonally from the rear wall 18. However, it iscontemplated that the support flange 94 could extend in any of a varietyof angles from the rear wall 18. In addition, the front wall 16 includesthe inwardly turned front lip 96. The shear center load path 22 of thevehicle seat back member 12A is disposed proximate an inside corner 24defined by the connection of the central web 14 and the rear wall 18.The shear center load path 22 extends substantially along thelongitudinal extent of the rear wall 18. The shear center load path 22is generally confined to a space defined between the central web 14, therear wall 18, and an invisible boundary 99 extending between the frontedge 41 and the inside edge 92. During a rear collision event, the bodyof an occupant is thrust back into the seat 11. The resulting force istransmitted through the seat back 13 downward along the shear centerload path 22 to the recliner hearts 49A, 49B where the force is relayedto the seat base 30.

Referring now to FIGS. 8A-8E, and as mentioned above, the depth of thefirst and second vehicle seat back members 12A, 12B generally increasesfrom the top portion 46 of the first and second vehicle seat backmembers 12A, 12B to the bottom portion 44 of the first and secondvehicle seat back members 12A, 12B. Notably, the shear center load path22 remains positioned at the inside corner 24 of the first and secondvehicle seat back members 12A, 12B. More specifically, as the shearcenter load path 22 extends down the first and second vehicle seat backmembers 12A, 12B, the shear center load path 22 maintains a positiongenerally defined by the connection of the central web 14 and the rearwall 18, and does not extend to an outside corner 102 of the connectionof the central web 14 and the rear wall 18.

Referring now to FIGS. 11 and 12, the seat back generally defines anoccupant rear impact zone pocket 104 that receives the load associatedwith an occupant during a rear impact. The impact zone pocket 104 issubstantially uniform and generally equidistantly spaced between thesides of the seat base 30. It is contemplated that cushions disposedover the seat back will distribute the load associated with the rearimpact evenly across the first vehicle seat back member 12A, secondvehicle seat back member 12B, the upper cross support 52, and the lowercross member 80. The optimization of the occupant rear impact zonepocket 104 allows for the supporting members including the first seatback support member 12A, second vehicle seat back member 12B, uppercross support 52, and lower cross member 80 to be constructed from avery thin metal. The metal from which the supporting members areconstructed may be as thin as 0.9 mm. The metal may be formed, stamped,etc.

Referring now to FIGS. 13 and 14, first and second seat back supportmember 12A, 12B are designed to transfer impact forces downwardlythrough the shear center load path 22 along the connection of thecentral web 14 and the rear wall 18. As noted above, the shear centerload path 22 does not extend to an outside corner 102 of the connectionof the central web 14 and the rear wall 18. Additionally, the shearcenter load path 22 includes a substantially direct alignment with eachrecliner heart 49A and 49B providing for an optimized seat backconstruction that transfers load evenly from the seat back 13 to theseat base 30. The recliner hearts 49A and 49B are generally spacedapproximately 450 mm apart. The optimized shear center load path 22 isaligned with the recliner heart +/−20 mm and generally centered over theseat base 30 and seat base legs 106 to provide resistance to torsionalforces during front and rear collision events.

The first and second vehicle seat back members 12A, 12B, as disclosedherein, are generally designed to efficiently transmit forces from thebody of an occupant to the seat base 30 and eventually the frame of thevehicle 10 during both normal use and during collision events. The shearcenter load path 22 extends along each of the first and second vehicleseat back members 12A, 12B and maintains a generally consistentdirection as forces applied from the body of an occupant are directeddownward. More specifically, rear impact forces in the direction ofarrow RI_(L) are directed downward through the first and second vehicleseat back members 12A, 12B along the shear center load paths 22 to therecliner hearts 49A, 49B which distribute the load to the seat base 30and ultimately the frame of the vehicle. Similarly, front impact loadsin the direction of arrow FI_(L) are directed downward through the firstand second vehicle seat back members 12A, 12B along the shear centerload paths 22 to the recliner heart and eventually to the seat and theframe of the vehicle 10. Consequently, the vehicle seat back 13 of thepresent invention provides safety to occupants, is easy to manufacture,and uses minimal materials, thereby resulting in a strong yetlightweight vehicle seat.

The vehicle seat back 13 disclosed in detail herein has an optimizedconstruction that eliminates discontinuities or irregularities in theshear center load path 22. Traditional seat back designs include shearcenter load paths that can deviate in various directions beforetransferring loads to a seat base. In addition, the seat back 13architecture is centered around the occupant and provides additionalstrength to the vehicle seat back 13 and helps protect occupants duringcollision events. The seat back 13 utilizes laser-welding technologysuch that the vehicle seat back members 12A, 12B can be fabricated withvery thin metal (0.9 mm thick). Furthermore, traditional seat backsoften employ a multitude of parts to achieve various functions. The seatback 13 of the present invention integrates many parts such that theoverall part count, weight, and cost to build the seat back 13 isminimized.

It is to be understood that variations and modifications can be made onthe aforementioned structure without departing from the concepts of thepresent invention, and further it is to be understood that such conceptsare intended to be covered by the following claims unless these claimsby their language expressly state otherwise.

1. A vehicle seat back member comprising: a central web; a front wallextending from the central web; and a rear wall extending along asubstantial portion of a rear edge of the central web, wherein a shearcenter load path of the vehicle seat back member is disposed proximatean inside corner defined by the connection of the central web and therear wall, and extends substantially along the longitudinal extent ofthe rear wall.
 2. The vehicle seat back member of claim 1, wherein therear wall includes a reinforcing groove that extends along thelongitudinal extent of the rear wall.
 3. The vehicle seat back member ofclaim 1, further comprising: a support flange that extends from the rearwall.
 4. The vehicle seat back member of claim 1, wherein the centralweb includes a recessed portion.
 5. The vehicle seat back member ofclaim 1, further comprising: a front lip that protrudes from the frontwall.
 6. The vehicle seat back member of claim 1, wherein the centralweb includes a recliner heart aperture.
 7. The vehicle seat back memberof claim 1, wherein a top portion of the vehicle seat back member isoperably connected with a scalloped upper cross member.
 8. The vehicleseat back member of claim 1, wherein a bottom portion of the vehicleseat back member is operably connected with a lower cross member thatwraps around the bottom portion of the vehicle seat back member.
 9. Avehicle seat back member comprising: a central web connected with arecliner heart and having front and rear edges; and a rear wall having aconnecting edge coupled with the central web and an inside edge, whereina shear center load path of the vehicle seat back member is confined toa space defined between the central web, the rear wall, and a boundaryextending between the front edge and the inside edge.
 10. The vehicleseat back member of claim 9, wherein the rear wall includes a groovethat extends along the longitudinal extent of the rear wall.
 11. Thevehicle seat back member of claim 9, further comprising: a supportflange that extends from an inside edge of the rear wall.
 12. Thevehicle seat back member of claim 9, wherein the central web includes arecessed portion.
 13. The vehicle seat back member of claim 9, furthercomprising: a front wall having a front lip.
 14. The vehicle seat backmember of claim 13, wherein the central web includes a recliner heartaperture.
 15. The vehicle seat back member of claim 9, wherein a topportion of the vehicle seat back member is operably connected with ascalloped upper cross member.
 16. The vehicle seat back member of claim9, further comprising: a lower cross member that wraps around a bottomportion of the vehicle seat back member.
 17. A vehicle seat backcomprising: a first vehicle seat back member and a second vehicle seatback member, each having a central web and a rear wall; and a seat baseoperably connected with the first and second vehicle seat back members,wherein a shear center load path of the vehicle seat back extends alongan inside corner connection of the central web and the rear wall of eachof the first and second vehicle seat back members and into the seatbase.
 18. The vehicle seat back of claim 17, further comprising: anupper cross member and a lower cross member that extend between thefirst and second vehicle seat back members.
 19. The vehicle seat back ofclaim 17, wherein the rear wall includes a groove that extends along thelongitudinal extent of the rear wall.
 20. The vehicle seat back of claim17, further comprising: a support flange that extends from an insideedge of the rear wall.